Nichols was born and raised in Augusta, Maine, where she attended Cony High School. As a sophomore at Cony, she studied abroad in France. Nichols admitted to Latino Review that she "wasn't the hot chick" in high school, referring to herself instead as a "late bloomer."[1] Upon graduation, she headed to Columbia University in New York, intent on studying psychology. While growing up, Nichols enjoyed trekking through the outdoors and being on the water and loved windsurfing, sailing and just being on the water. She's currently known for her film work and for her portrayal of CIA agent Rachel Gibson on the ABC television series Alias.